Portable power washing apparatus



April 30, 1968 c. J. STASZ E AL PORTABLE POWER WASHING APPARATUS INVENTORS CLARENCE J 87145.?

ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROBERT E SWAN Filed Oct. 22, 1965 am, a .oomwz April 30, 1968 c, J, s sz ET AL 3,380,658

PORTABLE POWER WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CLARENCE J. .STASZ ROBERT E SWAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice 3,380,658 PORTABLE POWER WASHING APPARATUS Clarence J. Stasz, Cleveland, and Robert F. Swan, Parma,

Ohio; said Swan assignor to Donald J. Basch, Cleveland, Ohio Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,035 14 Claims. (Cl. 239-130) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for cleaning surfaces by spraying heated water through an airless spray nozzle onto the surfaces to be cleaned under substantial pressures.

Disclosure The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to a portable power washing apparatus and, more particularly, to a washing apparatus which is especially adapted to clean vehicles of all tyes and even buildings in a minimum amount of time using a minimum amount of water and detergent; and a novel method of doing the same.

There are many known techniques which are being used commercially for cleaning a large number of vehicles in a relatively short period of time, ranging from substantially fully automated washing apparatus to hand operated spray units. While most of these systems are effective in removing relatively loose dirt and in most cases caked on mud, generally they will not remove grease, hand prints, or road film, at least not without using a very strong detergent. Besides that, the available equipment is quite expensive, thus requiring a rather large initial investment to enter the field, and the water requirements for washing is substantial, which is of special concern for those who have portable washing apparatus and carry their water supply with them, or for those who operate in areas where there is a limited supply of water available.

Various methods are also being followed to clean incrustion from buildings, including the use of steam or water at elevated temperatures and/or pressures, with or without an abrasive or detergent admixed therewith. However, none of these methods has proven to be entirely satisfactory for one reason or another. Moreover, none has been found to be equally suited for cleaning vehicles ierely by making minor adjustments, which is a principal object of this invention.

Another object is to provide a vehicle washing apparatus which is capable of removing such things as road film, grease, and finger prints from vehicle bodies in addition to ordinary dirt without the use of special, strong soap solutions.

Still another object is to provide a power washing apparatus of the type described which is capable of cleaning more vehicles per hour and using less water than similar type prior art washing apparatus.

A further object is to provide such a power washing apparatus which is capable of producing an airless spray of water at relatively high temperatures and under extremely high pressures, from 1600 to 1800 psi. for cleaning vehicles such as cars and trucks, and up to 4200 p.s.i. for cleaning buildings.

Another object is to provide such a washing apparatus with a minimum number of operating parts, thereby making the apparatus especially suited to be mounted on a truck for transporting to various jobs.

Still another object is to provide such an apparatus which is relatively inexpensive as compared to similar type cleaning apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

3,380,658 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the Claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of power washing apparatus in accordance with the present invention shown mounted on a truck of conventional yp FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in perspective showing the various parts of the power washing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of the nozzle for the apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane of the line 44 of FIG. 3.

Turning now to the details of the preferred form of power washing apparatus illustrated in the drawing, and first of all to FIG. 1, such power washing apparatus is generally indicated at 1 and is shown mounted on a truck 2 for ready transportation to wherever it might be needed for cleaning purposes. However, it should be understood that the apparatus 1 could just as easily be a permanent installation if desired.

As perhaps best seen in FIG. 2, the power washing apparatus 1 desirably consists of eight main parts; a large tank 3 for storage of a water-detergent solution; a hot water heater 4 for heating the water-detergent solution; a spray nozzle 5; a high pressure pump 6 for pumping the heated water-detergent solution from the heater 4 t0 the nozzle 5; a smaller tank 7 for storage of rinse water; a second pump 8 for pumping the rinse water to the nozzle 5; and a compressor 9 driven by a motor 10 for supplying compressed air to operate the pumps 6 and 8. In the preferred form shown, the larged tank 3 is located adjacent the top of the enclosed portion 15 of the truck 2 above the heater 4, whereby the water-detergent solution within the tank 3 may be fed by gravity to the heater 4 through a vertical pipe 16. Alternatively, the tank 3 maybe mounted on the bed 17 of the truck 2 adjacent the heater 4, but in that case an additional pump would be required to pump the water-detergent solution from the tank 3 to the heater 4, and the truck length would have to be somewhat increased to accommodate the additional parts on the truck bed 17. While not absolutely necessary, it is desirable that there be provided a shutoff valve 18 in the vertical pipe 16 between the tank 3 and heater 4.

The tank 3 may be filled with water and detergent in the proper proportions through a removable cap 19 located in the top of the enclosed portion 15, or at some other suitable place. While it has been found convenient to mix the detergent directly with the wash water in the storage tank 3, it should be apparent that a separate detergent tank could be provided and the mixing done either in the heater 4, or as the heated water leaves the heater. In that case, the tank 3 could be used for supplying both the wash water and rinse water, and the rinse water tank 7 could be eliminated. Soft water is not generally used and is not necessary.

The hot water heater 4 illustrated is of the gas fired type, has a capacity of 37 gallons, and is capable of heating gallons per hour at a 100 F. temperature rise. However, in actual practice it has been found that this is much larger than is necessary, since only about 40 gallons per hour of hot water is needed while cleaning with the power washing apparatus 1. The temperature of the water as it leaves the heater 4 is preferably between and F., this being thermostatically controlled.

the heater 4 when needed by the pump 6 through a suction pipe 20 and discharged from the pump under extremely high pressure to the nozzle 5 through a suitable flexible hose 21. The pump 6 is of a piston type which is commercially available, it being capable of delivering an airless water spray at a maximum of 4200 p.s.i. pressure and a flow of 1% gallons per minute. The pump 6 is driven by compressed air entering through a supply hose 22 from the compressor 9, such compressor preferably having a capacity of about 25 cubic feet per minute. Of course, such a high pressure hot water-detergent solution would ruin the paint on an automobile. However, it has been found that when supplied under extremely high pressures approaching 4200 p.s.i. through the nozzle 5 having a .068 inch orifice 23 and an 11 inch fan (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the resulting airless spray is very effective in removing incrustations from the surfaces of floors and both interior and exterior walls of buildings. The temperature of the solution, while approximately 160 to 180 F. when it leaves the heater 4, is about 100 F. when it hits the work after leaving the nozzle 5. For turning the spray on and off, the nozzle 5 is provided with a shut-off valve 24.

For the cleaning of vehicles, excellent results are obtained with a water-detergent solution at about 180 F. pumped at a pressure of 1600 to 1800 p.s.i. at a rate of 1 gallon per minute through the .068 inch orifice and 11 inch fan of the nozzle 5 to create an airless spray. Not only will such a spray remove normal dirt and caked on mud from vehicles such as automobiles and trucks, but it will also remove such hard to get ofif things as grease, road film, and hand prints without any apparent damage to the paint finish and without the use of high strength detergents which could by themselves damage the paint. No preliminary preparation of the surface to be cleaned is required. While spraying the vehicle, it is preferred that the tip of the nozzle 5 be held approximately 4 to 12 inches from the surface being cleaned, with the spray being directed substantially perpendicular to the surface. Here again, the temperature of the spray as it hits the surface is much cooler; i.e., about 100 F.

In addition to being able to remove grease and road film by using the above described method and apparatus, which was heretofore not possible with high pressure spraying equipment previously available, the amount of time necessary to clean a vehicle has been substantially reduced. Cleaning with similar type prior art washing apparatus takes about twice as long as does cleaning with the apparatus of the present invention. As an example, the apparatus disclosed herein is able to clean an. average of 3 tractors and 3 thirty foot trailers per hour; or retail milk trucks per hour, while the prior art apparatus can clean only about half as many vehicles in the same length of time.

There is also a substantial savings in the amount of water required for washing. The apparatus of the present invention uses approximately one gallon per minute while actually spraying the water-detergent solution. Competitors apparatus, on theother hand, uses more than 3 gallons per minute. This means that while the present apparatus 1 needs a supply of only about 350 gallons of water-detergent solution for an eight to ten hour day, competitors apparatus needs a supply of 1200 gallons. These improved results are believed to be due to the temperature and pressure of the water-detergent spray, and the fact that the spray is airless.

Because of the relatively small amount of water required for washing purposes, the apparatus 1 can be mounted on a much smaller and therefore less expensive truck than can the comparable prior art apparatus. Moreover, the heater for the apparatus 1 may be smaller and less expensive. These two factors permit a substantial reduction in costs of the present apparatus as compared to apparatus of the prior art. Further, because less water is used during washing, there is less of a mess to clean up.

' Upon'completion of the washing operation, the surface is then rinsed. The rinse water is stored in a separate tank 7 as aforesaid, and is pumped in an unheated condition at a rate of about one-half g.p.m. by the pump 8 through a suction pipe 25 and hose 26 to the nozzle 5, there being provided a conventional type switching valve 27 at the nozzle 5 for switching from one hose 21 to the other 26 and vice versa. However, of course a separate nozzle could be provided for rinsing if desired. The pump 8, like the pump 6, is operated by air from the compressor 9 passing through the hose 28.

The washing apparatus 1, in addition to being quite effective in cleaning vehicles generally, is also useful in cleaning engines, and without having to cover any parts of the ignition system. This is a great advantage over steam cleaning, since when using steam the parts have to be covered or the steam will penetrate into the points, condenser, and coil of the ignition system and cause damage. On the average, it takes about four minutes to wash an automobile or truck engine.

From the above discussion, it is now apparent that the washing apparatus of the present invention is capable of cleaning vehicles at a much faster rate than similar prior art apparatus while using much less water, and also easily removes such things as grease, road film, and hand prints, which were real problems in the past. Further, the present apparatus may be mounted on a much smaller and there fore less expensive truck, and a less expensive heater may be used, thus substantially reducing manufacturing costs. Finally, the apparatus disclosed herein is quite versatile in that it may be used to clean other things which have previously been considered to be quite difficult to clean, such as engines and buildings, to name a few.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, providing the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

We claim:

1. A power washing apparatus comprising means providing a supply of wash water, means for heating the wash water to a temperature of from F. to F., an airless spray nozzle, and means for pumping the heated wash water through said nozzle at a pressure greater than 1600 p.s.i. and at a rate of from 40-60 gallons per hour to create a high pressure airless spray.

2. The power washing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means providing a supply of rinse water separate from said wash water supply, a pair of hoses leading from said wash Water supply and rinse water supply to said nozzle, a switching valve means on said nozzle for selectively connecting said nozzle to said wash water supply and rinse water supply, and additional means for pumping the rinse water through said nozzle when connected thereto by said switching valve means.

3. The power washing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wash water has detergent added thereto, and said pumping means is adapted to pump the heated-water detergent solution through said nozzle at a pressure of from 1600 to 1800 p.s.i.

4. The power washing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the Wash water has a detergent added thereto, and said pumping means is adapted to pump the heated-Water detergent solution through said nozzle at a pressure of approximately 4200 p.s.i.

5. The power washing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is mounted on a truck or the like for ready transportation wherever needed, and said supply of wash water comprises a Water storage tank dis-posed above said water heating means to permit gravity feed of the wash water from said storage tank to said water heating means.

6. The power washing apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a second water storage tank on said truck for said rinse water supply, a second pump means for pumping the rinse water to said nozzle, and a switching valve means on said nozzle for selectively switching between the heated water supply and rinse water supply, said first-mentioned water storage tank having a capacity of approximately 350 gallons, and said second Water storage tank having a capacity of approximately 200 gallons.

7. A power washing apparatus comprising a waterdetergent solution storage tank, heater means for receiving and heating such Water-detergent solution from said storage tank to a temperature from 160 F. to 180 R, an airless spray nozzle having a .068 inch orifice and an 11 inch fan, a first high pressure pump means for delivering such heated water-detergent solution to said nozzle at a pressure of from 1600 p.s.i. to 1800 p.s.i. and at a rate of approximately 1 gallon per minute to create an airless spray from said nozzle, a second storage tank for containing rinse water, a second pump for delivering such rinse water to said nozzle, and a switching valve means on said nozzle for selectively switching said nozzle between such heated water-detergent solution and rinse water.

8. A power washing apparatus comprising a waterdetergent solution storage tank, heater means for receiving and heating such Water-detergent solution from said storage tank to a temperature from 160 F. to 180 R, an airless spray nozzle having a .068 inch orifice and an 11 inch fan, a first high pressure pump means for delivering such heated water-detergent solution to said nozzle at pressures up to 4200 p.s.i. and at a rate of approximately 1 gallon per minute to create an airless spray from said nozzle, a second storage tank for containing rinse water, a second pump for delivering such rinse water to said nozzle, and a switching valve means on said nozzle for selectively switching said nozzle between such heated water-detergent solution and rinse water.

9. A process for cleaning surfaces comprising the steps of heating water to a temperature of from 160 F. to 180 F., pumping such heated water through an airless spray nozzle under a pressure greater than 1600 p.s.i. and at a rate of from 40-60 gallons per hour to create an airless spray, and directing the spray at the surface to be cleaned.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein a mild detergent is added to the water prior to spraying.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the water-detergent solution is sprayed through an nozzle having a 0.86 inch orifice and 11 inch fan, and such nozzle is moved back and forth across the surface during sraying until the surface is clean, after which the surface is rinsed with rinse water.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the surface to be cleaned is a vehicle, and the heated water-detergent solution is pumped through the nozzle at a pressure of from 1600 p.s.i. to 1800 p.s.i.

13. The process of claim 9 wherein the surface to be cleaned is a building, and the heated Water-detergent solution is pumped through the nozzle at a pressure approaching 4200 p.s.i.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein the nozzle is held at a distance of from 4 to 12 inches from the surface being cleaned and the spray is moved back and forth across the surface until all the dirt, grease, road film, and finger prints are removed therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,636,190 7/1927 Mahoney 239135 1,820,316 8/1931 Miller 239135 2,128,263 8/1938 Ofeldt 239--135 2,755,130 7/1956 Arant 239--305 2,809,073 10/ 1957 Wahlert 239597 2,987,259 6/1961 Lindquist 23913-0 3,049,302 8/1962 Simmons 239126 3,118,610 1/1964 Teachler 239304 3,163,880 1/1965 Johnson 239130 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,723 10/ 1929 Germany.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

